Automobile door structure with water and noise isolation sheet

ABSTRACT

There is provided a door structure of an automobile, capable of being visually checked as to whether or not a peripheral edge of an opaque water.noise isolation sheet is reliably bonded to a door inner panel through the intermediary of a sealer (adhesive). With the door structure, the door inner panel of the automobile is provided with the opaque water.noise isolation sheet for ensuring watertightness and noise isolation after stopping up at least access holes of the door inner panel, and the inner peripheral edge of a transparent film substantially annular in shape is fixedly attached to the outer peripheral edge of the opaque water.noise isolation sheet, thereby forming a structure wherein the outer peripheral edge of the transparent film is bonded to the door inner panel through the intermediary of the sealer (adhesive).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automobile door structure with asheet having watertightness and noise isolation, which is hereinafterreferred to as a “water-noise isolation sheet”, installed on theinterior side of a door inner panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, description is given hereinafter.Traditionally, a polyethylene sheet called a hole-seal or a service-holecover (hereinafter referred to merely as a hole-seal) is attached to adoor inner panel 1 of an automobile through the intermediary of a sealer(adhesive) 6 in order to ensure watertightness by stopping up accessholes 1 a formed in the door inner panel 1. The hole-seal is provided toprevent rainwater, and so forth, from making ingress between a doorglass 3 and a door outer panel 2 to thereby enter the interior of theautomobile through the access holes 1 a.

Further, it has lately been proposed to install a water-noise isolationsheet 4 of a low specific gravity in place of the hole-seal in order toprovide noise isolation in addition to watertightness. However, when theperipheral edge of the water-noise isolation sheet 4 is fixed to thedoor inner panel 1 through the intermediary of the sealer 6 as with thecase of the conventional hole-seal, it is not possible to visuallyrecognize the sealer 6 through the peripheral edge of the water-noiseisolation sheet 4 because the water-noise isolation sheet 4 is opaque.As a result, a problem arises in that it is not possible to checkwhether or not the water-noise isolation sheet 4 is accurately bonded tothe door inner panel 1 through the intermediary of the sealer 6.

Unless the peripheral edge of the water-noise isolation sheet 4 isreliably bonded to the door inner panel 1 through the intermediary ofthe sealer 6, there arises a problem that leakage of water and noiseoccurs, resulting in deterioration of functions of both watertightnessand noise isolation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been developed in view of the problems described inthe foregoing, and it is therefore an object of the invention to providea door structure of an automobile, capable of being visually checked asto whether or not the peripheral edge of an opaque water-noise isolationsheet is reliably bonded to a door inner panel through the intermediaryof a sealer.

The door structure of an automobile is now described with reference toFIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 to 10.

The door stricture of an automobile according to the first aspectinvention includes a door inner panel 1 of the automobile provided withan opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 for ensuring watertightness andnoise isolation by stopping up at least access holes 1 a of the doorinner panel 1. The door structure further includes a transparent film 5,wherein an inner peripheral edge of the transparent film 5 substantiallyannular in shape is fixedly attached to an outer peripheral edge of theopaque water-noise isolation sheet 4, thereby forming a structurewherein the outer peripheral edge of the transparent film 5 is bonded tothe door inner panel 1 through the intermediary of a sealer 6. Thetransparent film 5 includes a semitransparent film.

The door structure of an automobile according to the second aspectinvention includes a door inner panel 1 of the automobile provided withan opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 for ensuring watertightness andnoise isolation by stopping up at least access holes 1 a of the doorinner panel 1. The door structure further includes a slit 4 a with apredetermined width formed in portions of the water-noise isolationsheet 4, opposite to the respective peripheries of the access holes 1 a,on four sides thereof, and a transparent film 5, wherein edges of eachof transparent films 5, at least on both sides along the longitudinaldirection thereof, are fixedly attached to the water-noise isolationsheet 4 in such a way as to stop up the respective slits 4 a, andrespective central parts of portions of the transparent films 5,opposite to the respective slits 4 a, are bonded to the door inner panel1 through the intermediary of the seller 6.

The door structure of an automobile according to the third aspectinvention includes a door inner panel 1 of the automobile provided withan opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 for ensuring watertightness andnoise isolation by stopping up at least access holes 1 a of the doorinner panel 1. The opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 has a collisionabsorption pad 9 against which a door interior trim material 10 isbutted at a time of assembling. The door structure further includes atransparent film 5, wherein an inner peripheral edge of the transparentfilm 5 substantially annular in shape is fixedly attached to an outerperipheral edge of the opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4, therebyforming a structure wherein the outer peripheral edge of the transparentfilm 5 is bonded to the door inner panel 1 through the intermediary of asealer 6. The door structure further includes a looseness 4 b providedat least by the periphery of the collision absorption pad 9 of thewater-noise isolation sheet 4, and a portion of the transparent film 5,by the periphery of the collision absorption pad 9, is set larger inwidth than other portion thereof to form a wider part 5 a, and a part ofthe wider part 5 a, on the inner side of the sealer 6, is fixed to thedoor inner panel 1 with alignment clips 7.

With the door structure of an automobile according to the fourth aspectinvention, fixed attachment between the transparent film 5 and theopaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 according to the first to thirdaspects of the invention is effected by a thermal welding or with anadhesive.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the innerperipheral edge of a transparent film 5 substantially annular in shapeis fixedly attached to the outer peripheral edge of the opaquewater-noise isolation sheet 4, and the outer peripheral edge of thetransparent film 5 is bonded to the door inner panel 1 through theintermediary of a sealer 6, so that the sealer 6 can be visuallyrecognized through the transparent film 5. Accordingly, it is possibleto easily check whether or not the water-noise isolation sheet 4 isbonded to the door inner panel 1 by the sealer 6 through theintermediary of the transparent film 5. As a result, a door structureexcellent in watertightness and noise isolation can be provided.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, a slit 4a with a predetermined width is formed in portions of the water-noiseisolation sheet 4, opposite to the respective peripheries of the accessholes 1 a, on four sides thereof, and the edges of each of transparentfilms 5, at least on both sides along the longitudinal directionthereof, are fixedly attached to the water-noise isolation sheet 4 insuch a way as to stop up the respective slits 4 a. Further, therespective central parts of portions of the transparent films 5,opposite to the respective slits 4 a, are bonded to the door inner panel1 through the intermediary of the sealer 6. Accordingly, the sealer 6can be visually recognized through the transparent film 5.

It is therefore possible to visually check with ease whether or not thewater-noise isolation sheet 4 is bonded to the door inner panel 1, onthe respective peripheries of the access holes 1 a, with reliability. Asa result, it is possible to prevent with reliability occurrence of anevent where rainwater, and so forth entering between a door glass 3 anda door outer panel 2 reaches the interior of an automobile after passingthrough the respective access holes 1 a. Furthermore, propagation ofnoise also can be effectively prevented. Thus, a door structureexcellent in watertightness and noise isolation can be provided.

Further, in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention,the inner peripheral edge of a transparent film 5 substantially annularin shape is fixedly attached to the outer peripheral edge of the opaquewater-noise isolation sheet 4, and the outer peripheral edge of thetransparent film 5 is bonded to the door inner panel 1 through theintermediary of a sealer 6, so that the sealer 6 can be visuallyrecognized through the transparent film 5. Accordingly, it is possibleto check whether or not the water-noise isolation sheet 4 is bonded tothe door inner panel 1 with reliability. As a result, a door structureexcellent in watertightness and noise isolation can be provided.

Further, because looseness 4 b is provided at least by the periphery ofa collision absorption pad 9 of the water-noise isolation sheet 4, evenif a door interior trim material 10 is butted against the collisionabsorption pad 9 at a time of assembling, an event where the sealer 6 isbroken can be prevented by the agency of the looseness 4 b. Accordingly,it is possible to preemptively prevent an event where the opaquewater-noise isolation sheet 4 is peeled off from the door inner panel 1.Thus, a door structure excellent in watertightness and noise isolationcan be provided.

In addition, a portion of the transparent film 5, by the periphery ofthe collision absorption pad 9, is set larger in width than otherportion thereof to form a wider part 5 a, and a part of the wider part 5a, on the inner side of the sealer 6, is fixed to the door inner panel 1with alignment clips 7, so that it is possible to accurately set asuitable loosened value for the looseness 4 b. Accordingly, breakage ofthe sealer 6 can be prevented with greater reliability. Furthermore, bythe agency of the alignment clips 7, tensile stress acting on the sealer6 can be reduced, so that breakage of the sealer 6 can be prevented withstill greater reliability.

Still further, in accordance with the fourth aspect of the presentinvention, the transparent film 5 may be fixedly attached to the opaquewater-noise isolation sheet 4 by thermal welding or with adhesive, sothat both in their entireties can be closely assembled together incontrast to the case of assembling with clips or the like. As a result,the watertightness and noise isolation by virtue of the water-noiseisolation sheet 4 can be further enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an automobile having a door structure providewith a water-noise isolation sheet;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the interior side of a conventional doorstructure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III—III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the interior side of a door structureaccording to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V—V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the interior side of a door structureaccording to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII—VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the interior side of a door structureaccording to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line IX—IX in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line X—X in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of a door structure with a water-noise isolationsheet according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5.This is the door structure wherein a door inner panel 1 of in automobileis provided with an opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 for ensuringwatertightness and noise isolation by stopping up access holes 1 a ofthe door inner panel 1. The door structure is characterized in that theinner peripheral edge 5 a′ of a transparent film 5 substantially annularin shape is fixedly attached to the outer peripheral edge 4 a′ of theopaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 by thermal welding, and the outerperipheral edge 5 b of the transparent film 5 is bonded to the doorinner panel 1 through the intermediary of a sealer (adhesive) 6. By sodoing, the sealer 6 can be visually recognized through the transparentfilm 5, so that it is possible to easily check whether or not the outerperipheral edge 4 a′ of the water-noise isolation sheet 4 (now providedwith a transparent area 5 c defined by film 5) is bonded to the doorinner panel 1 through the intermediary of the transparent film 5 and thesealer 6. By conducting such checking, it becomes possible to providethe door structure excellent in watertightness and noise isolation.

A second embodiment of a door structure with a water-noise isolationsheet according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 6 and 7.This is the door structure wherein a door inner panel 1 of an automobileis provided with an opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 for ensuringwatertightness and noise isolation by stopping up both access holes 1 aand a speaker hole 1 b or the door inner panel 1. With the doorstructure, a slit 4 a with a predetermined width is formed in portionsof the water-noise isolation sheet 4, opposite to the respectiveperipheries of the access holes 1 a, on four sides thereof, and theedges of each of transparent films 5, on both sides along the verticaland horizontal (longitudinal) directions thereof, are fixedly attachedto the water-noise isolation sheet 4 in such a way as to stop up therespective slits 4 a. Further, the respective central parts of portionsof the transparent films 5, opposite to the respective slits 4 a, arebonded to the door inner panel 1 through the intermediary of the sealer6.

With the present embodiment, on the respective peripheries of the accessholes 1 a, on the four sides thereof, the water-noise isolation sheet 4is bonded to the door inner panel through the intermediary of the sealer6, thereby stopping up the access holes 1 a with reliability.Accordingly, it is possible to prevent with reliability occurrence of anevent where rainwater, and so forth entering between a door glass 3 anda door outer panel 2 reaches the interior of an automobile after passingthrough the respective access holes 1 a. Furthermore, propagation ofnoise also can be effectively prevented. Thus, the door structureexcellent in watertightness and noise isolation can be provided. Withthe present embodiment, further, the outer peripheral edge of thewater-noise isolation sheet 4, together with a door interior trimmaterial 10, is fixed to the door inner panel 1 with fixture clips 8.

A third embodiment of a door structure with a water-noise isolationsheet according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 8 to 10.This is the door structure wherein a door inner panel 1 of an automobileis provided with an opaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 for ensuringwatertightness and noise isolation by stopping up access holes 1 a ofthe door inner panel 1. A collision absorption pad 9 against which adoor interior trim material 10 is butted at a time of assembling isattached to the water-noise isolation sheet 4.

Further, the inner peripheral edge of a transparent film 5 substantiallyannular in shape is fixedly attached to the outer peripheral edge of theopaque water-noise isolation sheet 4 with an adhesive, and the outerperipheral edge of the transparent film 5 is bonded to the door innerpanel 1 through the intermediary of the sealer 6. By so doing, thesealer 6 can be visually recognized through the transparent film 5, sothat it is possible to easily check whether or not the water-noiseisolation sheet 4 is bonded to the door inner panel 1 with reliability.

Furthermore, looseness 4 b is provided by the periphery (the undersideof the water-noise isolation sheet 4, on the right hand side, in thecase of the present embodiment, in FIG. 10) of the portion of thecollision absorption pad 9 of the water-noise isolation sheet 4. As aresult, even if the door interior trim material 10 is butted against thecollision absorption pad 9 at the time of assembling, and the sealer 6is pulled in the direction indicated by arrows in FIG. 8, an event wherethe sealer 6 is broken can be prevented by the agency of the looseness 4b.

In addition, with the door structure, portions of the transparent film5, by the periphery 9 a of the collision absorption pad 9, are setlarger in width than other portions thereof, thereby forming a widerpart 5 a, and parts of the wider part 5 a, on the inner side of thesealer 6, are fixed to the door inner panel 1 with alignment clips 7,respectively. By so doing, it is possible to accurately set a suitableloosened value for the looseness 4 b and also to prevent breakage of thesealer 6 with greater reliability.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-317894 field Sep.10, 2003 including specification, claims, and drawings, is incorporatedherein by reference.

1. A door structure of an automobile comprising an inner door paneldefining therein at least one access hole, an opaque water/noiseisolation sheet provided on said inner door panel for ensuringwater-tightness and noise isolation by being mounted on said inner doorpanel so as to close off said access hole, and a transparent filmdefining an inner peripheral edge of a substantially annular shape andfixedly attached to an outer peripheral edge of said isolation sheet andan outer peripheral edge bonded to said door panel.
 2. The doorstructure of claim 1, wherein said outer peripheral edge of said film isadhesively bonded to said door panel.
 3. The door structure of claim 1,wherein said film is annular in shape and is disposed in surroundingrelation with said outer peripheral edge of said isolation sheet andprovides said isolation sheet with a transparent area to allow visualinspection of the mounting of said isolation sheet on said door panel.4. The door structure of claim 1, further including a collisionabsorption pad mounted on said isolation sheet inwardly of said outerperipheral edge thereof, said isolation sheet including an excess ofmaterial disposed adjacent an outer periphery of said absorption pad,said excess of material preventing breaking of the bond between saidouter peripheral edge of said film and said door panel upon butting ofsaid collision pad with a door inner trim material during assembly.